Open AccessFeasibility and acceptability of esophageal‐directed hypnotherapy for functional heartburn
Author(s) -
Riehl M. E.,
Pandolfino J. E.,
Palsson O. S.,
Keefer L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
diseases of the esophagus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-2050
pISSN - 1120-8694
DOI - 10.1111/dote.12353
Subject(s) - heartburn , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , anxiety , epigastric pain , hypervigilance , esophageal ph monitoring , rumination , sensation , intervention (counseling) , reflux , nerd , gastroenterology , physical therapy , psychiatry , disease , gerd , cognition , psychology , vomiting , nursing , neuroscience
Summary Functional heartburn ( FH ) is a benign but burdensome condition characterized by painful, burning epigastric sensations in the absence of acid reflux or symptom‐reflux correlation. Esophageal hypersensitivity and its psychological counterpart, esophageal hypervigilance ( EHv ) drive symptom experience. Hypnotherapy ( HYP ) is an established and preferred intervention for refractory symptoms in functional gastrointestinal disorders ( FGIDs ) and could be applied to FH . The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical utility of 7 weekly sessions of esophageal‐directed HYP ( EHYP ) on heartburn symptoms, quality of life, and EHv . Similar to other work in FGIDs and regardless of hypnotizability, there were consistent and significant changes in heartburn symptoms, visceral anxiety, and quality of life and a trend for improvement in catastrophizing. We would recommend EHYP in FH patients who are either non‐responsive to medications or who would prefer a lifestyle intervention.